Chapter 218: What Do You Want From Him?
“No. Your son disgusts me more than you do,” Susan refuted coldly.
“Susan, what do you want from Manuel? Since childhood, you’ve bullied him, yet he remained loyal, protecting and caring for you. What else do you want from him?”
“If he truly cares for me, he won’t force me to marry him,” Susan insisted.
“Have you ever considered his desperation, driving him to such underhanded tactics?”
As Susan prepared to retort, Justine interjected, “Do you remember what caused the scar on his forehead?”
Susan paused, recalling the incident when, at twelve years old, she’d flown a kite into a tree. Intending to trick Manuel into falling, she’d asked him to retrieve it. He had fallen, fracturing his forehead, requiring eight stitches. He’d kept his bangs long to conceal the scar.
“And the dog bite on his hand?” Justine added.
Susan bit her lip. At fourteen, during a school hike, she’d become separated from the group, her phone dying. A stray dog attacked her, but Manuel, appearing from nowhere, fought it fiercely. He’d suffered multiple bites, one nearly tearing the flesh from the back of his hand.
“He studied abroad alone for four years. Why do you think?”
It was Susan’s doing. She’d told him she didn’t want to see him anymore, urging him to study abroad to avoid conflict with Henry, knowing Manuel was infatuated with her. At eighteen, he’d forgone acceptance to Northfield’s best university to start over.
“What do you want from him? Have you ever considered the depth of his hurt?” Tears welled in Justine’s eyes.
“That was his own decision,” Susan remained cold, struggling to deny her guilt. Even if Manuel harbored feelings for her, it didn’t justify forcing marriage, she believed. Justine trembled with anger.
Edward, irritated by Susan’s indifference, exclaimed, “Susan, I regret spoiling you! You’re ungrateful and disrespectful!”
“I’m like this because I lost my mom!” Susan shouted. Their conflict seemed insurmountable.
Edward’s face flushed crimson, his eyes widening in terror. He shuddered violently, his complexion ghastly.
“Edward!” Hannah rushed to his side. Edward appeared frozen, choking.
“Susan, call an ambulance!” Hannah urged.
Panic seized Susan. She'd never anticipated this. Trembling, she called for help.
Hannah directed, “Justine, let’s take him to the hospital. Handle him gently; it might be a cerebral hemorrhage from hypertension. Susan, contact your father’s doctor.”
“Okay,” Susan whispered, trembling.
They rushed Edward to the emergency room. Watching the doors close, Susan felt distraught. Tears streamed down her face, but she clung to her belief that she’d done nothing wrong; her marriage shouldn't be dictated by others.
She heard Justine sobbing in the corridor, Hannah comforting her. Unlike her previous life, Hannah didn’t take her home, nor did she recall Edward's hospitalization. But she was certain he wouldn't die this time.
An hour later, the doctor emerged. Justine, eyes blurred with tears, approached. “Doctor, how’s my husband?”
“Ma’am, he’s stable. Luckily, no lasting damage. Timely arrival prevented potential paralysis. He survived the hemorrhage.”
“Thank you, doctor.”
“The hemorrhage stemmed from hypertension. Prevent recurrence; otherwise, he’s at risk.”
“Thank you, doctor.”
Edward, pale and weak, emerged, a stark contrast to the strong father Susan remembered. Seeing his fragility, Susan turned away, relieved he was safe, then fled.
She likely sought Henry. Unbeknownst to her, Edward and Justine had spoken with Henry the previous night. Unable to turn to Henry, she accompanied Justine and Hannah to Edward’s ward, intending to speak with Manuel, whose room was next door.
Finding Edward somewhat improved, Hannah went to Manuel’s room, pausing upon seeing Oscar and Theodore, who also noticed her. A nervous feeling washed over her; she sensed a secret.